JT Lady Jaguars eye top spot as NBL first round concludes
Currently second on the table with 15 points from 8 games, the Lady Jaguars trail league leaders KCCA Leopards by two points. KCCA have 17 points from 9 games.
JT Lady Jaguars eye top spot as NBL first round concludes
By Chrispus Baluku
Journalists @New Vision
National Basketball League
Saturday 17th ( UCU Mukono)
Women
Lady Jaguars vs Stommers (12:00PM)
Updf Tomahahks vs lady canons (2:00PM)
KCCA leopards vs lady dolphins (4:00PM)
Men
KIU Titans vs Victoria Crocs (6:00PM)
Sunday 18th ( ABJA Park,Nalya)
Women
Lady dolphins vs Nabisunsa ( 2:00PM)
KIU rangers vs lady Janguars (4:00PM)
Men
Victoria Crocs vs JKl Dolphins (6:00PM)
JT Lady Jaguars aim to close the first round of the National Basketball League (NBL) at the top of the standings, with two crucial back-to-back fixtures this weekend that will determine their position heading into the second round.
They will face Magic Stormers on Saturday, May 17 at 12:00 PM at the UCU Courts in Mukono. Currently second on the table with 15 points from 8 games, the Lady Jaguars trail league leaders KCCA Leopards by two points. KCCA have 17 points from 9 games.
Assistant coach Nkoba Cuthbert Yovani expressed confidence ahead of the weekend clashes.
“We are set for the games; our aim is to finish at the top,” he said.
The third-placed Magic Stormers, who also have 15 points but from 9 games, are equally eyeing the top spot. A win against the Lady Jaguars—combined with a loss for KCCA—could see the Stormers take the lead based on superior point difference.
“Magic Stormers is a good team, and we will play them cautiously,” added Coach Nkoba.
In the second women's fixture of the day, UCU Lady Canons will take on the UPDF Lady Tomahawks at 2:00 PM. The Lady Canons, currently sixth with 5 wins from 8 games, come into the match fresh off a hard-fought 54-46 win over the Magic Stormers.
The UPDF Lady Tomahawks, seventh with 3 wins and 6 losses, will be eager to bounce back after three consecutive defeats.
At 4:00 PM, a heavyweight clash will see JKL Lady Dolphins take on table leaders KCCA Leopards. The match was initially set for Wednesday but postponed following the tragic death of Jonathan Obukunyang, a key figure in the JKL franchise, in a road accident in Mukono. The Federation of Uganda Basketball Associations (FUBA) granted the team time to mourn.
In the interim, KCCA Leopards faced Angels, winning convincingly 74-35 to stay at the top.
JKL Lady Dolphins, currently fifth with 6 wins from 7 games, will also face Nabisunsa on Sunday in another important fixture as they aim to cement a top-four finish before the first round ends.
Men’s League Update: Titans Still Searching for First Win
In the men's division, KIU Titans will take on Victoria Crocs. The Titans remain winless after 10 games and sit at the bottom of the standings. Victoria Crocs, with 4 wins from 9 games, are currently ranked 10th and will look to secure a win to keep their playoff hopes alive.
Netball Absences Affect Weekend Lineups
The weekend fixtures will be impacted by the absence of several key players currently on national duty at a netball event in Zanzibar.
Notable absentees include: Fildauce Namulema (NIC/KIU Rangers), Stella Nanfunka (Prisons/KIU Rangers) and Ruth Nambirige (KCCA/Magic Stormers).
Their absence could significantly influence the performance and dynamics of their respective teams.